Walking aid device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for aiding a user to walk. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to walking aids, and more particularly to a walking cane.

PROBLEM STATEMENT Interpretation Considerations

This section describes the technical field in more detail, and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. This section does not describe prior art as defined for purposes of anticipation or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. section 102 or 35 U.S.C. section 103. Thus, nothing stated in the Problem Statement is to be construed as prior art.

Discussion

Many individuals, for one reason or another, are quite unstable on their feet and due to such instability, find it difficult to walk without a walking aid, such as a cane. Even with the aid of a cane there are situations in which such individuals would have a need for a pair of canes. For example, some situations include extended walks, uneven terrain, steps, and/or low light conditions. However, having to keep up with and carry two canes at times when only one cane is needed places an addition burden on already handicapped individuals. Therefore, there is a need for an improved walking aid device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment, are better understood by reference to the following detailed description. To better understand the invention, the detailed description should be read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a side view and a front view of one embodiment of a walking aid device configured as a single walking cane in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a walking aid device configured as a pair of walking canes detached along separation line A-A of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a walking aid device configured as a pair of walking canes detached along separation line A-A of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a handle portion for a walking cane in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 a is a front view of a walking cane having a support member portion and a handgrip coupled to the support member portion;

FIG. 5 b illustrates a back view of the walking cane; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the walking cane being grasped by a hypothetical user.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE Interpretation Considerations

When reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment of a Best Mode, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter “exemplary embodiment”), one should keep in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiment is what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following exemplary embodiment that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment.

Likewise, individual aspects (sometimes called species) of the invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following exemplary structure (or a following exemplary act) that a substantially equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way.

Accordingly, the discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which that species belongs as well as related species in that genus. Likewise, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated within their respective genus, and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described.

Second, the only essential aspects of the invention are identified by the claims. Thus, aspects of the invention, including elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described) should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (for example, one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”).

Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising” for example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive, sense. Fifth, the words “means” and “step” are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention and do not mean “means” or “step” as defined in §112, paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C., unless used as “means for—functioning—” or “step for—functioning—” in the Claims section. Sixth, the invention is also described in view of the Festo decisions, and, in that regard, the claims and the invention incorporate equivalents known, foreseeable, and unforeseeable. Seventh, the language and each word used in the invention should be given the ordinary interpretation of the language and the word, unless indicated otherwise. It should be noted in the following discussion that acts with like names are performed in like manners, unless otherwise stated. Of course, the foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting. Words and phrases are to be given their ordinary plain meaning unless indicated otherwise. Further, indications of orientation are not to be given absolute interpretation with respect to a fixed origin or axis, but are rather provided to give general reference orientations with respect to other provided general orientations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The walking aid device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprises a two part design which is selectively convertible from a single walking cane into a pair of discrete walking canes whereby a user can, based on their specific needs at a particular moment, use the walking aid device as a single walking cane or as two separate walking canes. One embodiment of the cane 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B in which FIG. 1A shows a side view in an attached configuration, and FIG. 1B shows a front view also in the attached configuration with line A-A illustrating the point of separation.

The cane 100 comprises a vertical support portion 110 and a handgrip portion 120. The vertical support portion 110 is generally a weight-bearing member for supporting the weight of the body of the user. The handgrip portion 120 is located at one end of the vertical support portion. The vertical support 110 and handgrip 120 can be integrated as a single component or can be separate coupled components, for example. In one embodiment, the handgrip portion 120 is of an appropriate size for a user to comfortably hold onto and employ the cane 100 using only a single hand. In another embodiment, the handgrip portion 120 is extended perpendicularly to the vertical support 110 and on either side of a center-line running lengthwise thereof enabling a user to grip the cane 100 using a hand on either side of the centerline (CL) (the extended hand portion is illustrated in FIG. 1A in dashed lines) for use as a two-handed, one-legged walking cane.

Referring now to FIG. 1B there is shown a front view of the cane 100 with a separation line A-A indicating the area of detachment/attachment of a first cane portion 170 and a second cane portion 180. The cane portions 170 and 180 are shown in a juxtaposed or single cane configuration and each include a vertical support portion 110 and a handgrip portion 120 such that cane portions 170 and 180 appear as mirror images along line A-A. In one embodiment, cane portions 170 and 180 are identical in height along the centerline CL and are identical in weight bearing capability. The respective mating areas juxtaposed along line A-A include a means for selectively attaching cane portions 170 and 180 in a relationship with one another such that they are cooperable for operating as a single walking cane. The attaching means is also selectively operable for enabling a user to manually detach cane portions 170 and 180. If a user desires to convert from a single cane configuration to a two cane configuration, the first cane portion 170 is simply separated from the second cane portion 180 along separation line A-A.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown the first 170 and second 180 cane portions in the decoupled or two-cane configuration in which magnetic attraction is used for coupling. That is, the cane comprises magnetic materials to provide a sufficient magnetic attractive force for facilitating the coupling of the first and second cane portions 170 and 180 when placed in close physical proximity. For example, the first cane portion 170 includes magnetic material 210 which is fixedly attached to the mating side of the first cane portion. Further, the second cane portion 180 includes a ferrous material 220 which is fixedly attached to the second cane portion mating side in an arrangement which corresponds with the magnetic material of the first cane portion. The manner of usage and operation should be apparent from the above description and corresponding drawings.

With the magnetic coupling arrangement, the cane portions 170 and 180 can also include a conventional peg and hole type coupling arrangement to facilitate alignment and/or add support in the attached or single cane configuration. For example, the first cane portion 170 can include one or more alignment type pegs 225 fixedly attached to the first cane portion mating side, the pegs 225 extending outwardly therefrom. The second cane portion 180 includes corresponding peg holes 235 integral with the second cane portion mating side and for receiving the pegs 225 of the first cane portion 170 when in the attached or single cane configuration. In another embodiment, the pegs 225 are located on the second cane portion 180 and the peg holes 235 are located on the first cane portion 170. Further with the magnetic coupling arrangement, a wedging type device arranged as a finger operated button can be included for assisting in separating the magnetic bond between the two cane portions 170 and 180. Preferably, the wedge button is coupled to the tip of the handgrip portion 120.

The following is illustrative of one possible construction for using the presently described invention with a conventional wooden cane. A conventional wooden cane can be sawed in half, lengthwise, from top to bottom such that the two halves are mirror images of each other having the same height and able to support the same weight. A section of the centers along the cut area can be chiseled-out for inlaying a magnetic strip in one half and a metal strip in the other half. The magnetic strip and metal strip are inlaid flush with the wood so that both halves can be bonded together to reform what would appear to be a single un-cut wooden cane. Obviously, the material used for construction is not limited to wood and other materials suitable for a walking cane are contemplated.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown another embodiment for selectively coupling the first 170 and second 180 cane portions in which a conventional keyhole locking mechanism is provided for coupling. The keyhole locking mechanism includes both a keyhole inlay 310 associated with one cane portion and a corresponding key 320 associated with the other cane portion which extends outwardly for engagement into and/or with the keyhole 310 of the one cane portion.

The following is another illustrative example of one possible construction for using the presently described invention with a conventional wooden cane. A conventional wooden cane can be sawed in half, lengthwise, from top to bottom such that the two halves are mirror images of each other having the same height and able to support the same weight. A section of the center along the cut area of one half is chiseled-out in a typical keyhole type pattern. More than one keyhole can be used. Further, the key is affixed to the other half to correspond with the keyhole(s) of the one half. The key can be, for example, a screw or nail having a head of the appropriate size for engaging with the keyhole. The manner of usage and operation for coupling the two halves using the keyhole mechanism should be apparent from the drawings and above description.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a walking aid device in accordance with the present invention that includes cane portion 470 and cane portion 480. The cane portions 470 and 480 are shown in the attached or single cane configuration via a keyhole securing mechanism 310, 320 and are selectively separable along line B-B in the direction indicated by the arrows. Though a keyhole type attachment mechanism is shown, other attachment mechanisms can be used such as those described herein. Here, cane portions 470 and 480 are cooperable for providing a one-legged walking cane with a two-handed handgrip, when coupled in the single cane configuration, such that a user can grip the cane and distribute weight evenly on either side of the cane's centerline which runs along separation line B-B. When separated or in the two cane configuration, each of cane portions 470 and 480 provide a one-legged one-handed walking cane. That is, the handgrip of each separate cane is of a size to accommodate a single human hand.

FIG. 5 a is a front view of a walking cane 500 having a support member portion 505 and a handgrip 507 coupled to the support member portion 505. Here, the support member portion 505 is generally identified as the portion of the walking cane 500 that extends vertically relative to the ground when the walking cane 500 is in use, and is perpendicular to the handgrip 507. The handgrip 507 is generally defined as a horizontal portion of the walking cane 500 when the walking cane 500 is in use, and which is graspable by a user. Accordingly, a boundary between the support member portion 505 and a handgrip 507 may be ambiguous, or the boundary may be clearly defined by a support member portion 505 that is separate from a handgrip 507. Thus the support member portion 505 and the handgrip 507 are preferably rigidly affixed to each other to hold stable positions relative to one another.

The handgrip 507 has a first hand portion 510 and a second hand portion 520. Each hand portion 510, 520 is capable of accommodating a grip of a human hand. The first hand portion 510 has a first contoured thumb grip 512 and the second hand portion 520 has a second contoured thumb grip 522. Preferably, the contoured thumb grips 512, 522 are positioned to each accommodate a thumb naturally so that the cane 500 may be held in a single right hand, a single left hand, or comfortably held directly in front of the user in a “pogo stick” style. In one embodiment, each thumb grip 512, 522 is generally shaped as an upward opening parabola having a point of origin along a central axis of the support member portion 505, and an opening directed generally away from the support member portion 505 along the top 509 of the handgrip 507, and may slope upward at an angle of approximately thirty degrees from an axis parallel with the handgrip 507.

The handgrip 507 of the walking cane 500 may be said to have a front side 530 and a backside 540. Further, the first contoured thumb grip 512 and the second contoured thumb grip 522 may be co-located on the same side of the handgrip 507, which is preferably the front side 530. In addition, further benefits of the invention may be realized when the first hand portion 510 is a mirror image of the second hand portion 520, where the mirror is taken across the central axis of the support member portion 505. Furthermore, in other embodiments the walking cane 500 may incorporate a third contoured thumb grip on the backside of the first hand portion 510 and even a fourth contoured thumb grip on the backside of the second hand portion 520. In this embodiment, a visually impaired user need only pick up the walking cane 500 and the walking cane 500 instantly accommodates the grip of the user.

FIG. 5 b illustrates a back view of the walking cane 500, showing the back side 540 of the walking cane 500. From FIG. 5 b it is seen that the first hand portion 510 has a first hand contour 514, and a second hand portion 520 has a second hand contour 524. Preferably, the first hand contour 514 is a mirror image of the second hand contour 524, the mirror being taken across the central vertical axis of the support member portion 505. Similarly, the first hand contour 514 is shown opposite the first thumb grip 512, and the second hand contour 524 is shown opposite the second thumb grip 522. In addition, from FIG. 5 b it can be seen that the first handgrip 510 and the second handgrip 520 are not necessarily linearly arranged. In other words, the first handgrip 510 and the second handgrip 520 may be orientated with respect to each other at angles designed to accommodate the natural bend of a human wrist and the arm position of a user.

In one embodiment, the angle between the first handgrip 510 and the second handgrip 520 is approximately a 120-degree angle, as measured using the central vertical axis of the support member portion 505 being the origin point of the radial angle measurements, and where the first handgrip 510 and the second handgrip 520 accommodate the same vertical plane. However, it should be understood that the first handgrip 510 and the second handgrip 520 may be linear in one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5 a.

The teachings of the walking cane 500 and the walking cane 180 may be used together in an alternative embodiment of the invention. For example, the walking cane 500 may also include a second cane 180 having a support member portion and a handgrip coupled to the support member, while the walking cane 500 and the second cane 180 incorporated coupler having a first mating portion 310 coupled to the walking cane 500, and a second mating portion 320 coupled to the second cane 180. Preferably, the first and second mating portions 310, 320 a co-operable for selectively coupling the walking cane 500 to the second cane 180. In such an embodiment, the walking cane 500 may comprise thumb grips while the second cane 180 may comprise handgrips, or vise versa. In addition, the combination of the handgrip of the second cane and the handgrip 507 of the walking cane 500 are still sized to accommodate the grip of a single human hand (this is not to say that the combination of the walking cane 500 and the second cane 180 is not usable with two hands, but merely to point out that the combination of the walking cane 500 and the second cane 180 may be used with either one hand or two hands).

FIG. 6 illustrates the walking cane 500 being grasped by a hypothetical user 610. From FIG. 6 one may see the manner in which the walking cane 500 may be gripped by two hands in front of the user. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand how the walking cane 500 may be gripped in a single hand and used at the side of the user as many canes today are used. Further, from FIG. 6 it is illustrated that the cane in use is held such that the support member stands vertically and the handgrip is configured generally horizontally.

Now, in reference to FIGS. 5 a, 5 b and 6, additional aspects of the invention may be discussed. For example, the walking cane 500 and the second cane 180 preferably have similar heights as measured from an upper most portion 509 of the handgrip 507 to the distal end of the support member portion 505. In addition, the walking cane 500 and the second cane 180 may be juxtaposed in a manner where each canes handgrip combines to form a common handgrip, and each hand portion is sized to accommodate one human hand. Furthermore, the walking cane 500 and the second cane 180 may be selectively separable into a pair of discreet walking canes.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Furthermore, though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims and their equivalents be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications. 

1. A walking aid device, comprising: a walking cane having a support member portion and a handgrip coupled to the support member; the handgrip having a first hand portion and a second hand portion; the first hand portion having a first contoured thumb-grip; the first hand portion sufficiently sized to accommodate a hand-grip; the second hand portion having a second contoured thumb-grip; and the second hand portion sufficiently sized to accommodate a hand-grip.
 2. The walking aid device of claim 1 wherein the handgrip has a front and a back, the back generally defined as the side of the handgrip opposite the front of the handgrip, the first contoured thumb grip and the second contoured thumb grip being co-located on the same side of the handgrip.
 3. The walking aid device of claim 2 wherein the first handgrip is a mirror-image of the second handgrip.
 4. The walking aid device of claim 2 wherein the first hand portion has a third contoured thumb-grip, and the send hand portion has a fourth contoured thumb grip.
 5. The walking aid device of claim 1 wherein the support member portion and the handgrip are rigidly affixed relative to one another.
 6. The walking aid device of claim 1 wherein the first hand portion comprises a first hand contour and the second hand portion comprises a second hand contour.
 7. The walking aid device of claim 6 wherein the first hand contour is a mirror of the second hand contour.
 8. The walking aid device of claim 6 wherein the first hand contour is opposite the first thumb grip.
 9. The walking aid device of claim 1 wherein the first handgrip and the second handgrip are not linear.
 10. The walking aid device of claim 1 wherein the first handgrip and the second handgrip are linear.
 11. The walking aid device of claim 1, further comprising: a second cane having a support member portion and a handgrip coupled to the support member; and a coupler having a first mating portion coupled to said first cane and a second mating portion coupled to said second cane whereby said first and second mating portions are cooperable for selectively coupling said first cane and said second cane.
 12. A combination walking cane, comprising: a first cane having a support member and a handgrip; the handgrip having a first hand portion and a second hand portion; the first hand portion having a first contoured thumb-grip; the first hand portion sufficiently sized to accommodate a hand-grip; the second hand portion having a second contoured thumb-grip; the second hand portion sufficiently sized to accommodate a hand-grip; a second cane having a support member and a handgrip coupled with a proximal end thereof, said first cane and said second cane having identical heights from an upper most portion of said handgrip to the distal end of said support member; and a coupler having a first mating portion coupled to said first cane and a second mating portion coupled to said second cane whereby said first and second mating portions are cooperable for selectively coupling said first cane and said second cane.
 13. The walking cane of claim 11, wherein said first and second mating portions are further cooperable for selectively securing said first cane handgrip and said second cane handgrip in a juxtaposition to form a common handgrip.
 14. The walking cane of claim 12, wherein said first cane handgrip, said second cane handgrip, and said common handgrip are of a size to accommodate a single human hand.
 15. The walking aid device of claim 12 wherein: the first cane has a front being the exposed side when the first and the second cane are coupled, the second cane has a back being the exposed side when the first and the second cane are coupled, the back generally defined as the side of the handgrip opposite the front of the handgrip, the first contoured thumb grip and the second contoured thumb grip being co-located on the same side of the handgrip.
 16. The walking cane of claim 12, wherein said first cane handgrip and said second cane handgrip are sized to accommodate a single human hand on the first hand portion and the second hand portion when in combination, and said common handgrip is of a size to accommodate one human hand upon each hand portion.
 17. A walking cane which is selectively separable into a pair of discrete walking canes, comprising: a first cane having a support member and a handgrip coupled therewith; the handgrip having a first hand portion and a second hand portion; the first hand portion having a first contoured thumb-grip; the first hand portion sufficiently sized to accommodate a hand-grip; the second hand portion having a second contoured thumb-grip; the second hand portion sufficiently sized to accommodate a hand-grip a second cane having a support member and a handgrip coupled therewith; and a means for selectively coupling said first cane and said second cane such that said first handgrip and said second handgrip cooperably form a common handgrip.
 18. The walking aid device of claim 1 wherein the handgrip has a front and a back, the back generally defined as the side of the handgrip opposite the front of the handgrip, the first contoured thumb grip and the second contoured thumb grip being co-located on the same side of the handgrip. 